Run Log

Another month goes by ~ and this one was over 100 miles.  I'm feeling strong & beastly.  I've been running my long runs all the way to South River Road & then over the rickety one lane bridge on South County Line Road...way DOWN into the valley & then the long climb back up.  My hill manta: "I am a BEAST".  And I believe I am.  Today's run took me to the trail at North Hog Back Ridge...I am slower on the trails...have to watch my step over the roots & mud and uneven ground, but I did it.  I am tired now, but I think I'm ready for the Lake Health Half in two weeks.

My shoes are wearing out...but I can't replace them this close to a long race.  Mike bought new shoes ~ the Hokas.  They look like moon shoes, but he really likes them.  I think I'll stick to Brooks, but you never know with me until I try them all on.
May has been a great running month.  A 5k PR {I do believe the course was short ~ but I'm still counting it}, a second and third place finish in the two races I've run {in my age group} And I'm FIRST place in the NERC grand prix {which is all going to change now that track season is over, but it's been great while it lasted}

One of the most fun things I've done in a while was run will Bill during his first marathon.  We joined him at 14 & ran the loop & left him at 18.  The we joined him again at 23.  Amazing.  Those five miles of the Cleveland Marathon made me want to do another {I just keep reminding myself that there are 21.2 more to do!}

I'm excited for what June will bring.  I'm going to join my first NERC group run on Monday ~ and then on the 15 is my third half marathon.  The Hill, Yeah half.  I'm scared I'll be over two hours...but I'm going to be a beast.  Because I am.

May Totals:

119.39 miles for the month {love being over 100 miles}
422.75 miles for the year 

502.04 miles for my bright blue Brooks ~ oh, my.  The most miles I think I've ever put on a pair of shoes.  I certainly hope they last me two more weeks.  They only need to get me one more long run...50 more miles, shoes...please?

1 mile swimming

60 miles biking

Still not cross-training & I'm going to regret not doing yoga.  But can't seem to motivate myself to get going with it.

Training for:  Lake Health Half Marathon {Hill, Yeah} on June 15

My WEIGHT:  So...after not weighing myself at the end of last month, I got on the scale & it was WAY to close to 140.  Way.  So out came the Lose It! app & two weeks of recording what I shoved in this mouth.  I lost 5 pounds pretty quickly...but was having crappy runs.  Last Friday I had eaten my calories by lunch...and then we went to Panini's for dinner.  Yes, I ate the entire pastrami panini.  almost doubles my "allowed" calories for the day.  And Saturday I had an amazing 14 mile run.  I need to find the balance of eating well & fueling my body.  Needless to say, I haven't counted calories since then & I bought new shorts that fit.  When I weighed myself today {to be fair, it was after my 12 mile run} I was 132.4.  

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month: 14.03 miles to Hog Back Ridge & South River Road!  yeah, hills.
Favorite place to run this month: Through North Hog Back Ridge...great trail through the woods.
# of books I read this month: for the record: two.  {but really 1 ~ see last month run log}
Monthly mileage record: 155.46 ~ August 2013!  WOW
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.2 ~ October 13, 2013 ~ Northern Ohio Marathon

PR's:
5K: 22:41 (West End Y 5k 5/4/14 ~ I think it was short}
10K: 52:02 (Cleveland 5/15/11)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:47:35 (Cleveland Half 5/19/2013)
marathon: 4:01:04 (Northern Ohio Marathon 10/13/2013)

Red Bird Run

The great donut challenge of 2014 ~ if one of these Middle School girls could beat me or if one of these Middle School boys could beat Dodd, they would win a donut party for their first period class.  I'm a double winner ~ as I was not beaten, but Dodd was beaten by TWO kids {Nick, not pictured as he had to get to a soccer game and Clay back row, third from left} ~ One {Clay} being IN my first period class.  DONUTS!

It's a lot of fun cheering on the kids & all the people I know at this Madison race.

Here's the traditional picture of me & Dodd ~ I told him to look tough.  

And the cupcake challenge ~ Jorge, here, is in my 7th period class.  He started talking rather large on Friday & Mrs. Ayala said she'd make cupcakes for the class if Jorge beat me & if I beat Jorge, HE had to bring in the cupcakes.  Guess who's the cupcake :)  He pushed me to run my fastest mile, probably ever, {7:07 according to my watch; 6 something according to where the girls were yelling out times}  He lasted with me another quarter mile or so...Very impressive for a 7th grade football player.

And the Medal Ussie {love Audrey's term for group selfies} I place THIRD in my age group {darn 40-49 large age group} & Dodd finally beat me, placing second in his young man age group}

Final stats for the 2014 Red Bird Run: 23:39 ~ 30th out of 155 people.  3rd in my age group.  Beautiful day to run by the lake & a great fun crowd to do it with.

Tomorrow we cheer Bill on at the Cleveland Marathon.

#10 & #11

Talk about lazy.  I finished book #11 before I even posted about #10 {and I didn't read in lightening speed either ~ finished book #10 back in April}

So ~ we'll start from the beginning.  #10 was Among the Mad ~ the sixth Masie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear.  An interesting book where Masie is called in by Scotland Yard to aid in an investigation.  It's the most 'disturbing' story as there is death and sadness because of the aftereffects of WWI for England's forgotten veterans.  It's also sad because Billy's wife has a mental breakdown, and the treatment of such illnesses is brought to life.  But it's also a bright book as Maisie finally comes to terms with her own ghosts from the war & I think has become whole again.
QUOTES:
location4862 ~ "Forgetting has never been of concern to me, Inspector.  It's the remembering that gives me pause."

location8624 ~ Old Year's Night {What a great phrase, instead of New Year's Eve}

fl: Maisie Dobbs, Psychologist and Investigator, picked up her fountain pen to sign her name at the end of a final report that she and her assistant, Billy Beale, had worked late to complete the night before. ll: She leaned closer to the image and concentrated on her own eyes.  And she smiled, for at last she knew she had reclaimed her soul.

#11 was Some Things that Stay by Sarah Willis, who is a Clevelander.  What a sweet & touching story about growing up and dealing with life.  Tamera is the main character, a teenager who moves every single year to a new location so her artist father can paint a new landscape.  Her mother is a devout atheist & the new neighbors are out to save the souls of the family.  I finished the novel in the dentist office...or I would have shed a few tears.  That goes against my rule of not reading books that make me cry, but this one breaks my rule in a good way.
QUOTES:
p1 ~ Some things that stay there be
Grief, hills, eternity... ~ Emily Dickinson, "The Secret"

p18 ~ It's May and finally warm, not a false warmth but a promise.  {it was finally that warm this week in Ohio}

p153 ~ I figure if there is a God, He's got the advantage.  If He's real, He'll prove Himself, even if I stack the deck.

fl: We move each year in spring, like birds migrating, except we don't go back to a familiar place.  ll: I decide to name this house The Last House.  The next one I'll call home.

West End 5k. PR!

First 5K of the year & it's off to a great start.  First of all, I pulled my bib out of the envelope & Mike asked me what number I had.  I looked & said, 91.  Dodd pulls his out & says, I'm 91.  I just looked at mine upside down.  How funny is that?

I learned at the 10 mile drop that it's ok to start in the front (even tho I DID NOT start on the line this time, I was in the front pack (three rows back or so).  That's the place to be because I don't have to weave around people.  I took off at a blistering pace (for me) and kept it up for the most part.  7:14 at the first mile, 14:44 at the second, 22:41 at the finish!  PR!!!  I even beat my "pr" on the short Rabbit Run course.  Even timed it perfectly with my playlist.  Red Headed Woman started at 20:00 & took me to the finish.  Just like I dreamed it would (I had a kickin' song following because I really didn't think I'd break 23:00.  I'm pretty excited.

This is me trying not to slow down as I turn off my watch!  I turned the corner & saw the finish...and as I got closer, I realized the clock was reading 22:...  I was so PUMPED to see that.  Can't wait for the Red Bird Run in two weeks.

The final screen (way before the race ended as there were 284 runners overall.  Sad that I didn't take first in my age group.  A way (by a minute) faster old lady beat this fast old lady.  Hats off!  {she's 49...wow}

Look the same bib number! (couldn't believe he was willing to go upside down for the picture!)

Great day for a race.  A few raindrops on the windshield on the way in and as we were lining up...no rain while we were running.

Notes: first time to race not wearing a skirt (just a tad too cold for me)  First time not to wear pink on top.  & I'm not wearing pigtails.  And I PR'd.  

I still will pig & skirt when the weather is warmer.